ABU DHABI // Emiratis need to take entry-level jobs and accept wages set by the market so they can take a bigger role in the economic development of the country, according to the new head of a body designed to increase employment among nationals. Unrealistic expectations are one reason why more than 8,000 Emiratis are registered as unemployed and seeking a job, said Abdullah al Darmaki, the executive director of the Abu Dhabi Emiratisation Council (ADEC).
"The Government envisions Emiratis being able to do everything, from filling up a car with gas and working at McDonald's to running companies," he said. "The economy cannot sustain all nationals to be at one level." Mr al Darmaki, a former executive at Bawadi, the Dubai developoment, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, is leading the reinvention of ADEC as an institution that connects the growing private sector of Abu Dhabi with unemployed Emiratis.
The 8,000 job-seeking Emiratis registered with ADEC, combined with as many as 2,000 graduates of local universities each year, creates a large pool of labour that needs to be employed. This process was socially necessary but also important for the future of the country, Mr al Darmaki said. "We need to be self-dependent to some extent. Expats only come to an economy during a boom period. When things slow down, they look for the next opportunity. We need to be able to fill that vacuum."
To do this, Emirati job seekers needed to accept the jobs for which they were qualified, he said. "Not everyone can be a manager starting off." The key to the strategy he has crafted to get Emiratis employed is getting accurate information about the businesses in Abu Dhabi and their needs. He said he would form committees with the stakeholders from major companies to better understand their three-to-five year business plans, and then mobilise ADEC to respond to those needs. Sectors such as manufacturing, travel and tourism, and oil and gas had great potential for growth, he said. "We need to not be about just training programmes. Instead, we can respond to what companies need here and build competence."
Career counsellors at ADEC will help Emiratis to prepare for interviews and decide whether to pursue additional training. A part of this process will be explaining what wages are realistic and what the work will entail. ADEC will also counsel expatriate employers about sensitivities in Emirati culture. Mr al Darmaki is working closely with the Education Council to help communicate with students about jobs available in the market, so they can make better-informed decisions about what areas of study to focus on at university.
For sectors that are in high demand, the two councils may create more scholarships and incentives to encourage students to fill the demand. "We are not here to influence the mindset of people about what they want to study, but help them to understand the market," he said. For now, Mr al Darmaki is focusing on a complete "rebranding and repositioning" of ADEC. Rather than be seen as an organisation that would ensure someone a job, he said ADEC was set up to help people with a strong work ethic and willingness to adapt to what was needed by the economy.
"A number of people have come here just to get paid," he said. "But we are moving away from that. We are trying to get closer to the community, so that as soon as a young person graduates they know they can come to us and get registered." ADEC has started the process of matching Emiratis to jobs that traditionally have been filled by expatriates. Last month, the Abu Dhabi Police signed an agreement with ADEC to provide 130 police jobs for Emiratis and in August the Education Council agreed to offer 700 jobs, including safety and transport officers.
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
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IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
The view from The National
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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